Poor Digestion = Poor Health (part 1)

•“If you die before the age of 85 from anything other than a severe injury, it is the result of bad digestion”
–Dr. Bernard Jensen
• “All disease begins in the gut.” – Hippocrates
• 80% of the body’s immune system functions within the intestinal tract

You may have an idea of where I might be going with the above indicated statements. Since digestion plays such a significant role of being healthy or sick, this and the next few CoeDynamics Wellness Blogs will be covering digestion and its relation to your health including recipes and other convenient at home tools that can bring healing to your gut.

Today’s blog educates on the big picture (What and How of the Digestion System). Knowing the why is much more a motivator then just the doing. As Proverbs 8:11a says “for wisdom is more precious then rubies”

The Digestive System
Your digestive system begins at the mouth and ends at the anus. In between is the esophagus, stomach, small intestines, and large intestines/colon. The colon is considered part of body’s filter systems (kidneys, liver, colon, skin, lymphatic system).

Digestion

This is the process by which food and drink are broken down into minute parts so the body can use them to nourish and provide energy

The intake of food must be thoroughly digested, broken down, metabolized, assimilated and absorbed; and finally, the waste needs to be efficiently eliminated. Its important for your body to accomplish each process effectively in order for it to…
– be able to destroy organisms that naturally enter through our food, beverage, saving the body from potential infections
– prevent the entry of incompletely digested food particles from entering the blood stream which can cause: inflammation, muscle breakdown, nerve damage, auto-intoxication
– uptake essential minerals: An example is iodine deficiency. This is not necessarily the need for more iodine, but RATHER is many times a result of a persons weak digestive system is unable to absorb the mineral.

Recycles toxins throughout the system that normally would have been eliminated

Increases stress to the kidneys and lymph

Becomes a breeding ground for disease, viruses, fungi, parasites, etc

Dehydration issues

Impairs mental and emotional well-being

Can cause fecal backup into the spleen, liver and gallbladder

So what does healthy elimination look like? (I promise to spare the graphics)

2 – 3 BMs per day

Easy without straining

No foul odor

No need for toilet paper

Well formed, firm

Without mucus

Expels quickly

I want to poop! (a little humor here)
If the digestive system has not been damaged through your life history of (over eating toxic foods, drug/alcohol/medication abuse, emotions, dehydration, surgeries etc), then adding to your daily life adequate amounts of:

clean water (work up to daily minimum ½ your body weight in ounces and eliminate dehydrating beverages), to learn more about adequate hydration click here

unprocessed salt (work up to ½ tsp/day to compensate what is lost in urine, respiration and perspiration)

These should be ample ingredients to give your colon a jump start or keep your elimination moving daily. On a side note, if after adding these valuable ingredients to your daily regime your elimination is still less then 2x/day, this is NOT something to be ignored but rather a huge red flag that your digestive system is in need of a tune up to literally get it moving again. What it may need is very much an individual determination considering your history, your diet and other daily life events. This is where my practice as a certified QRA Wellness Practitioner comes into practice. For further assistance or questions about this contact Tracy at pilates@coe-dynamics.com or 310 798 7600.